Nirmala Sitharaman in Aap ki Adalat: ‘Rafale deal finalised in accordance with IAF’s requirements and at lower price compared to UPA regime’

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that the decision to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was taken in accordance with the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Appearing in "Aap ki Adalat" show hosted by India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma, the defence minister said that the fighter jet deal was clinched at a lower price compared to what was being negotiated by the previous UPA regime.

Responding to a question on allegations being levelled by Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the Rafale deal, Nirmala Sitharaman said," Rahul Gandhi is not consistent in what he is saying. He quotes one price in Chhattisgarh, another price in Jaipur and so on. I don't know which one of his statements should be believed. How can I answer if he is so inconsistent?"

Answering a question on Pakistan's offer of talks, Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated Indian government's stand that talks and terror can't go together.

" If Pakistan wants dialogue then it will have to stop supporting terrorists. There is no point in talking to them if they continue to support terrorism," Sitharaman asserted.

When asked what happened to the promise of chopping off heads of 10 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation to head of an Indian soldier, Nirmala Sitharaman said that heads are definitely being chopped off though it is not being said publicly.

"We taught them a lesson in 2016. We are not openly saying it. But we are retaliating. Terrorists are being killed in large numbers. I can say with full sense of responsibility that the Indian Army is in full control of the situation in Kashmir," she said.

When asked about Rahul Gandhi's charge that Arun Jaitley helped Vijay Mallya in fleeing the country, Sitharaman said that she felt sorry for his understanding.

"Govt has to listen to Opposition's charges. What can we do?" she asked.

[Nirmala Sitharaman in Aap Ki Adalat will be aired on India TV at 10pm (Saturday, September 15) and 10am (Sunday, September 16)]

Watch: Rafale deal finalised in accordance with IAF’s requirements, says Nirmala Sitharaman